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Warm, dry Thanksgiving week adds to Colorado's snowpack worries

The Denver Post

Posted:
11/18/2012 03:58:38 PM MST

Updated:
11/18/2012 03:59:03 PM MST

Sunny and much warmer than average weather is in store for the Denver metro region for Thanksgiving week.

The National Weather Service in Denver is predicting highs at or above 60 degrees — including a high of 67 on Wednesday — as dry, warm air crosses the state from the southwest this week, forecasters said.

The southern stream from the trough of low pressure will shift north of the forecast area Monday as a ridge of high pressure amplifies," the National Weather Service in Grand Junction said Sunday. "This will bring dry conditions this week through at least Thanksgiving."

The average highs over the past 30 years in Denver are 50 degrees Monday and Tuesday and 49 Wednesday through Friday.

If Wednesday reaches 67 in the city, as predicted, it would still fall 7 degrees short of the record high of 73 for the date set in 1974.

Most of the state should see sunny, warm weather this week. Precipitation was expected to cross the northern and central mountain Sunday night, with up to 3 inches of snow possible at higher locations, mostly above timberline, with light rain in the valleys, forecasters said.

Durango, Aspen and Steamboat Springs are expected to see highs near 50 each day with no snow in the forecast through next weekend, according to the western Colorado forecast.

That's not good news for the state's ski industry or others affected by Colorado's ongoing severe drought.

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Statewide snowpack as of Thursday was just 57 percent of the 30-year average for the date.

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